Body-Shaming Adverts To Be Banned On London Transport

Adverts which make people feel ashamed of their bodies or pressured into looking a certain way are to be banned from public transport in London.

The city’s new mayor, Sadiq Khan, announced a move that will see an end to adverts such as the controversial Protein World campaign - which asked “are you beach body ready?” - in its promotion of protein shakes.

The advert, which appeared in underground stations across London, was accompanied by a model posing in a bikini, and attracted considerable criticism for allegedly encouraging unrealistic body expectations and for being demeaning to women.

Mr Khan said: “As the father of two teenage girls, I am extremely concerned about this kind of advertising which can demean people, particularly women, and make them ashamed of their bodies. It is high time it came to an end.
“Nobody should feel pressurised, while they travel on the Tube or bus, into unrealistic expectations surrounding their bodies and I want to send a clear message to the advertising industry about this.”

As well as banning adverts deemed to cause body confidence issues, Mr Khan has also called on Transport for London (TfL) - which oversees the city’s public transport - to establish an Advertising Steering Group to keep its new policy under review.